Hair clip



Nov. 6, 1 951 o. L. ENGsTRoM HAIR CLIP Filed April l5, 1949 INVEN TOR. UJA/P fA/657R0/1/1 #4W A 7' 7' OAD/VE y Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED ASTATE S PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

y This invention relates to hair clips, and morel particularly to a sheet metal clip having opposed of the above nature wherein the user may separate the prongs merely by pressing an end portion ofthe clip, whereby the clip may be easily applied and removed without disturbing the hair arrangement unduly. Y

Another object is to provide a clip of the above nature in which the prongs have both lateral and longitudinal deformations, whereby the hair will be rmly held by the resilient action of the clip.

'A further object is to provide a clip of the above nature which will be simple in construction, in-y expensive to manufacture, easy to use and manipulate, compact, oranamental in appearance, and very eflicient and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, there have been illustrated on the accompanying drawing two forms in which the invention may con'- veniently be embodied in practice.

In the drawings, Y

Fig. 1y is a side view of the first form of the improved hair clip. Y

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a side View ofthe second form of the hairclip. Y y

Fig. `4 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig, 5 -is a cross-sectional view on a largerscale, of the iirst form of the clip, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral I generally indicates a hair clip which is preferably formed from sheet metal, and which comprises. a resilient U-shaped loop portion II having a at lower arm I2 which extends forwardly into a bifurcated jaw portion in the form of a pair of parallel upper prongs I3, I4.

The loop portion II also includes an upper arm I which extends forwardly into a jaw portion in the form of a downwardly offset central lower prong I6 which has a reduced neck I1 movably disposed between the upper prongs I3, I4, and which tapers outwardly to a broad forward end I8 overlapped by the upper prongs I3, I4.

It will be understood that the resilient loop portion II is so formed as to urge the lower and upper arms I2 and I5 apart, thus urging the upper prongs I3, I4 toward the central lower prong I6 so as to grip a strand of hair which may be inserted therebetween.

In order to hold the hair against slipping longi- 2o The numeral 22 indicates a second form of the tudinally of the clip, the spaced upper prongs I3, I4 are provided with a plurality of collateral reverse bends I9 disposed in vertical planes.

Further, the gripping action of the jaw portions or prongs I3, I4, and I6 is enhanced by means of longitudinal ribs 20 which are downwardly embossed in the upper prongs I3, I4, and a longitudinal rib 2| which is upwardly embossed in the central lower prong I6.

The ribs 20 are so disposed as to lie at opposite sides of the lower prong I6, while the rib 2I is adapted to extend upwardly in the space between the upper prongs I3, I4, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Thus, strands of hair which may be inserted in the clip I0 will be rmly held against slipping by means of the pluralityA of projecting ribs and edges which are provided by the prongs I3, I4,

and I6. v y i Second form improved hair clip which includes a resilient loop portion 23 having-a flat lower arm 24 which extends forwardly into an upwardly-inclined reduced neck 25. The neck 25 is outwardly broadened and bifurcated so as to provide a jaw portion in the form of a pair of spaced upper prongs 26, 21.

The loop portion 23 also includes an upper arm 28. which extends forwardly, at opposite sides of the reduced neck 25, in the form of a bifurcated jaw'portion providing a pair of downwardly offset spaced lower prongs 29, 30. which are overlapped by the upper prongs 26, 21.

In order to exert an ecient gripping action, the upper prongs 26, 21 are preferably formed with a plurality of collateral reverse bends 3|, disposed in Vertical planes. The gripping action of the clip 22 is further improved by means of longitudinal ribs 32 which are downwardly embossed in the upper prongs 26, 21, and longitudinal ribs 33, which are upwardly embossed in the lower prongs 29, 30.

It will be understood that the resilient loop portion 23 is so formed as to urge the arms 24, 28 apart, and consequently will urge the upper prongs 26, 21 toward the lower prongs 29, 30 so as to grip strands of hair which may be placed therebetween.

In order to reduce the weight of the hairl clip 22, the loop portion 23 is preferably formed with a central slot 34.

Operation and may be applied to the hair without danger of cracking the finger nails and without the manipulation of auxiliary catches or detents.

While there has been disclosed in this specication two forms in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that these forms are shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosure, but may be modiicd and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to secure Letters Patent is:

1. In a hair clip, a resilient loop portion having thin upper and lower arms which extend forwardly into respective lower and upper jaw portions disposed in overlapping face-to-face, overlying engagement with each other, one ofY said `aw portions comprising a pair of spaced prongs, and the other of said jaw portions comprising a reduced neck movably disposed between said spaced prongs.

2. The invention as dened in claim 1, in which said jaw portions are provided with longitudinal ribs for gripping strands of hair between said jaw portions.V

3. The invention as dened in claim 2, in-which one of said jaw portions is provided with a plurality of reverse bends for holding strands of hair against slipping longitudinally of said jaw portions.

4. In a hair clip, a resilient loop portion Vhav- ,ing upper and lower arms, said lower arm `extending forwardly into a pair of integral spaced prongs, said upper arm extending forwardly into a downwardly-offset central prong having a downwardly-inclined reduced neck which is movably disposed between said spaced prongs, said spaced prongs laterally overlapping the upper surface of said central prong.

5. The invention as dened in claim 4. in which said central prong is provided with an upwardlyextending longitudinal rib between said spaced prongs. Y

6. The invention as-denned in claim 4, in which said spaced prongs are provided with downwardly-extending longitudinal ribs outwardly of opposite edges of said central prong.

7. The invention as defined in claim 4, in which said spaced prongs are provided with a series of reverse bends for holding a strand of hair against slipping longitudinally thereof.

8. In a hair clip, a resilient loop portion having upper and lower arms, said upper arm extending forwardly into a pair of integral downwardlyoifset spaced lower prongs, said lower arm having a pair of spaced upper prongs overlapping said lower prongs and integrally joined to said lower arm by a reduced neck which is movably disposed between said lower prongs.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8, wherein said prongs are provided with longitudinal ribs for gripping strands of hair between said upper and lower prongs.

10. The invention as dened in claim 9, wherein oneof said pairs of prongs is provided with a plurality of reverse bends for holding a strand of `hair `against slipping longitudinally thereof.

OSCAR L. EN GSTROM.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberV Name vDate 1,278,142 Graham Sept. 10. 1918 2,091,922 Hammalainen Aug. 31, 1937 2,166,460 Burns July 18, 1939 2,209,318 Caldwell July 30, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 107,309 France Mar. 17, 1875 646,875 France Nov. 16, 1928 

